Arsenal struggled against low blocks last season and needed someone who could effortlessly break down defences while relieving Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka of the creative burden.
While Eberechi Eze looked tailor-made for the low-block killer role at the Emirates, reports suggested Arsenal needed to make sales to close the deal. But while one might have expected assurances to be given to the player, who dreams of representing the red and white, perhaps none were offered. It has now emerged that Arsenal may not have genuinely wanted Eze after all.
Finance expert Kieran Maguire revealed that Arsenal could have easily completed the deal if they truly wished to:
“Arsenal have ‘huge’ PSR headroom, and could have ‘easily’ completed the £68m deal for Eberechi Eze if they wished to.”
Spurs Winning The Eze Race
With Eze open to a move to Tottenham Hotspur, a switch that jeopardises any chance of him joining Arsenal, it is fair to question whether the Gunners were ever serious about the deal.
Missing out on Eze may feel like a transfer blow, but is it? While his signing made sense to some extent, his arrival did not quite align with the squad Arsenal already have.
Eze was expected to play as a left central midfielder. But Arsenal’s LCM position is already well stocked. Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino can all operate there. Max Dowman, if given a chance, is another option.
While some were unsure which midfield trio Mikel Arteta would favour, against Athletic Club he debuted a Martin Zubimendi, Rice, and Ødegaard combination, and what a hit it was. Watching those three technically gifted midfielders play together sold Gooners a dream. With that trio, Arsenal arguably boast one of the finest midfields in Europe.
Left Wing Remains The Missing Piece
That said, it is Arsenal’s left wing that many feel still needs bolstering. So even if Eze does not sign, and Arsenal manage to land a top-class left winger, this could still go down as a grade-A transfer window for the Gunners.
What do you think Gooners, were Arsenal ever truly serious about signing Eze?
Daniel O
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Who knows? Arsenal may have changed their mind, but I doubt many who read the consistent media reports over weeks now (until very recently at least) would have thought that letting Sp*rs get Eze – if they do get him – was a clever “ruse” by Arsenal.
I hope that if Eze does go elsewhere, we’re not going to fall back on “Oh, we didn’t really want him” just to save face if Arsenal really did.
I’ve had that “emerging” thought of my gunners not wanting Eze for a few years now. If we had wanted him, it seems we would have gotten him a long time ago. imo, for a long time he has been exactly what we have needed.
I have a theory that any player doesn’t go back to a team to whom they have already played for in any capacity and unfortunately Eze has. So, in that respect I’m sort of ok, but Spurs not sure as I’m a gooner.
Daniel O, did you watch the game against Manchester United, because Arsenal’s midfield was underwhelming?
First game away at Old Trafford was a huge test. We didn’t play well, but we won. Man Utd never really look like scoring
FIOS, did you miss the shot on goal, that came back off the pos? Also Raya made at least one excellent save to his left hand post.
I don’t think it’s a question of changing our mind.
Berta works differently to how Edu did.
Edu would identify a target and go for it, where Berta’s MO has always much more one of exploring multiple options and trying to keep them all open as long as possible until a final decision is made.
It means that one has to be far more circumspect in assessing transfer rumours.
I’m sure we were looking at Eze, but if we decide not to go down that road it doesn’t mean we’ve “changed our mind”. It just means we decided against it.
We didn’t want to stunt the futures of Nwaneri and Dowman by signing long time Gooner Eze.
If they aren’t going for Eze, what about Alex Baena?
We just can’t rely on Odegaard as the main creative spark. He’s been below par for quite long.
Our strong defense can only carry us so far if we’re not creating and converting chances. Last season was already a glimpse of that.
For context, just look at the number of creative players who can play through the middle for city. Imagine the number of goals they’ll create and score.